Koch Industries Warns 45,000 Employees of ‘Consequences’ if They Don’t Vote for Republicans

Rebecca Leber
Think Progress / News Report
Published: Tuesday 16 October 2012
The Koch mailer is one of several recent examples of executives warning that employees may lose their jobs if Republicans do not win in November.
Article image

The Koch brothers’ $60 million pledge to defeat President Obama — along with their political network’s $400 million spending — make them two of the most influential conservatives this election.

Not content with their unprecedented influence in politics, the Kochs have also taken to influencing the votes of their employees. According to In These Times, Koch Industries sent 45,000 mailers to employees at Koch subsidiary Georgia Pacific, urging votes for Romney and other conservative candidates. The letter warns ominously of “consequences” for the workers if Republicans lose. 

The Koch mailer is one of several recent examples of executives warning that employees may lose their jobs if Republicans do not win in November. Here is an excerpt of the letter:

While we are typically told before each Presidential election that it is important and historic, I believe the upcoming election will determine what kind of America future generations will inherit.

If we elect candidates who want to spend hundreds of billions in borrowed money on costly new subsidies for a few favored cronies, put unprecedented regulatory burdens on businesses, prevent or delay important new construction projects, and excessively hinder free trade, then many of our more than 50,000 U.S. employees and contractors may suffer the consequences, including higher gasoline prices, runaway inflation, and other ills.

In These Times also reports that employees are restricted in their political free speech on social media outlets.

“It’s just they can intimidate people this way and they can make life miserable for you. The law would be strong enough to protect them probably, but you could be looking at being without your job for nearly a year,” said one Georgia Pacific employee.

One of the most absurd parts of the letter is its hypocritical charges of “cronyism.” The Kochs use their money and political clout to influence elections. Charles Koch once penned a Wall Street Journal op-ed, included in the employee packet, that attacked “partisan rhetoric” and rewards for “politically connected friends.” At the time, we listed the various ways the Kochs personally profit from subsidies and government contracts and attempt to influence the political process through every means possible. Koch Industries has also played a speculative role in hiking oil prices higher for profit. And that “delay” in “important new construction projects,” mentioned in the letter refers to projects the Kochs would profit from, like the Keystone XL pipeline for shipping tar sands.

The Kochs are not the only ones attempting to influence employee votes. Two CEOs recently issued threats to employees about their jobs if Obama wins. And Murray Energy’s CEO allegedly coerced donations to Republican candidates after forcing coal miners to attend a pro-Romney rally without pay.



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70 comments on "Koch Industries Warns 45,000 Employees of ‘Consequences’ if They Don’t Vote for Republicans"

Richard Brown

October 21, 2012 11:12am

Why do the media persist in defining such people as "conservatives"?
They are "reactionaries" who want to turn the clock back a century to the time
when robber barrons were rich enough to serve their selfish interests by buying elections and politicians. They blocked legislation designed to "promote the general welfare", and, with impunity, employed police to shoot down union organizers, who were denounced as "socialists".

pamterrell

October 17, 2012 7:56am

Don't we have laws against extortion, coercion, and intimidation?

mike morell

October 16, 2012 11:25pm

They're desperate to save their quarter $billion election investment. The Brothers should force Romney to level with the people and show his tax reports and offshore accounts. Also to stop being Pinocchio. A liar? Yes, Newt Gingrich.

sunshine

October 16, 2012 11:21pm

I rather give romney the chance than obama, obama had his years there and what success has he done so far? If obama wins again, there will be more proverty as there is already 47K or so on foodstamps. More higher crime on the rise where they will just target mostly all the rich that are creating jobs. This country will have no freedom because obama will only restrict more policies. If obama wins, i hope hollywood gets target first, the thiefs, criminals, etc.. are not stupid, they know who to go for.

yellowdogdemo

October 16, 2012 9:22pm

1. Do you want Romney to appoint the next Supreme Court justices? Think Citizens United and repeal of Roe v Wade.
2. The only benefit we will get from the pipeline is jobs to build it. the oil goes across the US to the Gulf and away.

jdhammen@verizon.net

October 16, 2012 9:19pm

Long past time to nationalize Koch Industries and send the brothers to a penal colony. Do It

CorPARAnoid

October 16, 2012 7:31pm

Let's talk about a Strong Body for a moment and the affects Corporations, our FDA and our politicians have done.

FLUORIDE: The leftover element of Aluminum Production/tons that Corps didn't know what to do with. Enter the Nazis who started feeding it to their civilian population to help dumb them down and make them more complacent.
It is in most Tooth paste, and now Mouth Wash,. It's in every city/towns water supply -- whether or NOT you add it. It is NOT recommended for young children due to MOLTENING of the Teeth & dental fluorosis. It lowers the level of intelligence due to it's affect on the brain.

ASPARTANE: a sweetner that was pushed by Rumsfeld to get approved thru the FDA : when heated it turned into flourmaldahide which weakons your immune deficiency & each person's dna can react diferently, causing different side affects. The USAF took their pilots off of SODA, because it also affects the brain & especially at high altitudes. Apartane when in it's solid cold state is fine, but once heated -- that's it, and your core temperature is around 96.8 to 99.8 .

GMO FOODS / Bt Corn: Genetically Modified Organism that was pushed thru the FDA against objections. The most dangerous thing to our entire Food Supply chain that you can imagine. Reproducing minute virus only visible thru a spectrometer that attacks your DNA, weakons all Immunization fighting cells, ability to obsorb nutrients, produces Mammory Cancers & death in females (mice, buffalo, cattle, goats, sheep, humans) but also sterility in both female & male. Initially GMO seeds went hand in hand with a herbicide Round Up to help kill bugs (dissolve their intestines) and stop Other weed or plant growth. But it now has resulted in Super bugs and Super Weeds, requireing more Round Up that ends not only in the soil, but the water, and anything feeding off of that plant and anything feeding off the animal that ate that plant. The practices of Monsanto, the World Health Organization in India (125K farmers commitig suicides), the BANNING of GMO's in the World: Japan, Gemany, New Zealand, Ireland, France, Madiera, some counties in California / Australia.
The new French Scientific Research Study on GMO, Round-Up glyphosate from life span of male / female rats -- breast cancer, liver and kidney disorders, sterility, aborted fetus, food allergies, immune difficiency issues.
Russia BANs import of American GMO Corn.
.
"Twenty years ago this week, then-Vice President Dan Quayle announced the FDA's policy on genetically engineered food as part of his 'regulatory relief initiative.' As Quayle explained in the 1992 press conference, the American biotechnology industry would reap huge profits 'as long as we resist the spread of unnecessary regulations.'
.
o Stop For Profit Corporate Lobbyists.
o Stop politicians from assigning personnel to top levels of government agencies (...like the Monsanto to FDA)
o Stop going after Whistle blowers and instead put them into positions where THEY can do some good in protecting US citizens.
o Every Gov Agency/Dept needs to be investigated, all Loop holes closed, and the ultimate safety and assurance of no USURY on the part of politicians, governmnt or corporate elite should ever be allowed.
.

Msdori

October 16, 2012 6:08pm

Koch Brothers aren't the only ones using coersion. David Segal in Orlando Florida sent letters to his 7000 Timeshare employees warning them that if Obama were elected, it could force him to make cutbacks and retire to the Islands, in otherwords, they could be out of a job if they didn't vote for Romney...this is a man who is building a 90,000 sq.ft. house, crying in his soup because they had to put it on hold and make cutbacks during the recession, then putting it on a Reality Show...talk about wasted tax breaks for the wealthy!

CorPARAnoid

October 16, 2012 5:57pm

Thank you Murray_1337 for having 'common sense' and 'critical thinking' that should be a part of every voter's responsibility. I look up the FACTS . Historically ...the crony capitalistic oligarchs (the Morgans, the Duponts, the Rockerfeller's, et.al.) tried every game in the book to dissuade or persuade the general voting public. Socialism was a big fear tactic starting around 1918 and still is today. Morgan used his influence to Disband WWI veterans demand work & then got them to sign up to a A-Party. There were Senators in Congress that spouted the bravado & brilliance of Musolini's & well known pictures of with our Top Elite businessmen (Ford, Watson, Walker...) & Hitler looking & getting funding.
From my perspective we have three enemies: 1) Facism and corporate worker's enslavement . -- we're pretty close to having this here. Wal-mart already does in Other countries & so do other Bottom Line Corp entities. They are how other citizns of the World see us. 2) the English Royal family & Rothchilds/world banking conglomerate - never quite got over the Revolution. OSS to CIA 3) a. those who are corrupt in CONgress in NOT following the Constitution & protecting its 'poor' citizens, the land, the environment, the biodiversity. Political to corp panderers who forgot they were servants of the people , b) Lobbyists, and these oligarchs who are SCARED of loosing their Camel, c) those who will do anything for Other People's money without providing or producing something of 'true' value. {Many elite family run questionable corps from Prescott Bush to grand sons, G.D.Searle to Rumsfeld, Haliburton(KBR) to Cheney, Bain Capital to Romney}
Now there will be some that argue about 'poor', but that's the FIGHT of Every AMerICAN to think of. Do you want a country where the POOR are Few? Where everyone is well-educated, healthy, working & growing to bring value to themselves & their country? That's what could MAKE us strong and provide HOPE to all children that they have a future of fair competition, equal law for all, able to be inventors, innovators ... and ETHICAL HUman beings. It's about Giving a Leg Up, Giving Hope , Ensuring a Safe Environment, & Prosperity to ALL the citizens. It requires Compassion Integrity & Strengthen of mind, body and Soul.

NoWay

October 16, 2012 5:33pm

Employees (and everyone) should learn about truly annonomous browsing through TOR (https://www.torproject.org/). Create a fake email and post freely. For really secure browsing, download TAILS from TOR. Stop these filthy rich bastards.

anono

October 16, 2012 5:24pm

Republicans --> Democracy Molesters. The list of traitors will be easy to compile. But what to do with them?

lenrobbins

October 16, 2012 3:55pm

Don't you know that they have the best interests of their employees in mind, I said sarcastically.

belleville

October 16, 2012 3:47pm

Vote all Republicans out of Congress and keep a close eye on the Democrats. We can get this country back if we stay focused. I support a new Tax Code, in order to have brackets that actually reach into the income sof the rich and super rich. We need "20 Brackets to $20Millionand a top marginal rate of 60%". God Bless the 99%.

dwdallam

October 16, 2012 2:50pm

It doesn't matter what you call yourself. If you think this is ok, think about this: China, Iran, and North Korea do the same thing. Is that ok with you? I really can't believe that any American would be ok with this. Here are some facts:

(1) The Koch mailer is one of several recent examples of executives warning that employees may lose their jobs if Republicans do not win in November.

(2) In These Times also reports that employees are restricted in their political free speech on social media outlets.

(3) Murray Energy’s CEO allegedly coerced donations to Republican candidates after forcing coal miners to attend a pro-Romney rally without pay.

It seems like conservatives--the hard charging freedom fighters they say they are--would be appalled by this. But they're not. They cheer the same behavior of totalitarian regimes, dictators, and oppressive governments!

If you are a freedom loving American, and this sort of thing is ok with you, then you seriously have your head up your ass. This is not the worldview of freedom people.

BobN

October 16, 2012 1:33pm

This is absolutely disgusting to think that two wealthy buzzards are trying to control elections for their sole financial benefit. This isn't the 1900's, it's present day America, and we are supposed to have some morals, inspite to the Republicans crassly demonstrating the lack of them.

janmb

October 16, 2012 12:33pm

K-XL oil lobbyists and oil-connected elected officials led by the oil baron Koch Brothers i.e...the billionaire Koch Industries' units have stolen oil from federal lands, rigged prices with competitors, paid bribes to win contracts in six countries, sold oil equipment to Iran despite a U.S. ban, brothers Charles and David Koch have relentlessly pushed for less government regulation cause they have been charged with releasing tons of cancer-causing benzene into the atmosphere and have had five criminal convictions in the U.S. and Canada.
They want their environmental deregulations and tax breaks that the republicans will provide them. Don't be fooled ....these are evil people...they are not the republican party of the IKE generation at all.

Curtis Smay

October 16, 2012 12:40pm

Republicans made it possible for this criminal behavior.This has been in the making for the last fifty years and yet people keep believing and voting republican.

cissy

October 16, 2012 11:22am

KOCH BROTHERS SUCK AND SO DOES CITIZENS UNITED

William Bednarz

October 16, 2012 11:19am

They are building the biggest house in the United States....their private PALACE...no expense is spared......except your pay....give me a tax break or I move to the Bahamas.......good-bye
...WHOSE A FOOL ???

Barbara Hamann

October 16, 2012 11:02am

Don't those employees know that no one knows how you vote. They can tell their boss they voted for Romney whether they did or not. He'll never know.

Unconditional1

October 16, 2012 12:19pm

That extends and relates to, "give ME favors...!" Or, you lose your job , kind of manipulation and coercion!

William Bednarz

October 16, 2012 11:00am

.........HOUSE COMMITTEE ON UN-AMERICAN ACTIVITIES....
...A.K.A. .......................REPUBLICAN VOTER SUPRESSION....INTIMIDATION
...sorry but if it were me I couldn't vote that way just for spite.....the old saying stand up and be a man
...REMEMBER TO VOTE...(these people out of office - both parties)
......REMEMBER TO VOTE

Curtis Smay

October 16, 2012 12:42pm

Do you really think throwing your vote away is going to solve this problem . Whats the matter no courage to support OWS with actions and money . Better grow up or else.

Ted-Zee-Man

October 16, 2012 10:49am

DICTATORSHIP---or---Monarchy, The "Rich and Powerful" must be stopped and the only way that I know of accomplishing this task is to get the United States of America;s voters to realize just how great this threat is to our FREEDOM.

My fellow Americans Please vote for only Democrats.

Curtis Smay

October 16, 2012 12:45pm

You are going to have to do better than that . Voting is not going to win a war . You are under attack , so you better run up your flag , if you want to survive.

Sunflowerbio

October 16, 2012 10:23am

GP employee---"Oh yes boss, I sure will vote for R and R. I don't want to see my job sent to China. No sir, boss. You can count on me for sure, boss."

clefman

October 16, 2012 10:21am

It looks as though the fear that is being served up by the Right? has reached the corporate level. Institutional Ignorance is its own reward.

PeepsRepublik

October 16, 2012 10:56am

Fear has been served up by the Left. The Right is just acknowledging it!

Curtis Smay

October 16, 2012 12:46pm

Lost sheep , do not get home in time.

murray_1337

October 16, 2012 12:43pm

Ah PEEPSREPUBLIK. I will direct you to Larryecollins comment below where he is clearly fear mongering. He clearly has no idea whether what he's saying is true but saying it as if its fact.

If that ain't fear mongering than I must've have been sick the day they taught that in "How to destroy a perfectly good country 101".

PeepsRepublik

October 16, 2012 1:13pm

If you actually understand the economics, (particularly the specific collapse of the economy in the great depression with the Democrat double-tap tax increases, and the surge of the economy under JFK's and Reagan's tax cuts) you would know that what has been done and what Obama tells us he is going to do should cause everyone to shout from the roof tops the warning that Larrye stated below.

murray_1337

October 17, 2012 4:26pm

We are losing sight of the main issue which is vote coercion by extreme right wing people who have nothing to lose either way. The lower classes will suffer way more at the hands of Romney.

Trickle down doesn't work.

murray_1337

October 16, 2012 2:07pm

I'm of the opinion that wealthy people won't even notice a change in their quality of life even if their taxes increased.

The answer is to get more money to the middle class so they can buy more. I don't trust trickle down economics which was the cornerstone of Reaganomics to get that money there.

99% of us buying a little more is way more effective than 1% buying tons.

If this is not common sense to you then you are blinded by partisanship. I am a common sense centrist. If it works do it. I don't care if it's a left or right wing idea.

Are you an economist?

triumph181

October 16, 2012 10:20am

Why do dictators feel so threatened, do they really want my underwater house, the bank overdraft, the lack of health benefits or my twenty year old car? Do they need my children's education loans in an economy that they have so corrupted that they cannot find jobs? What motivates these sociopaths, these paranoid schizophenics to act in this manner?
They are the real terrorists now because they are economically terrorizing my country in away that no Taliban could ever dream of doing. If they fear twitter so much and despise Facebook in such a way, maybe they should just shut them down, they certainly have the power to do it.

moulinet

October 16, 2012 10:13am

It is a shame ! How is it possible ? I hope that many workers will understand that a vote for Obama is the right one !

PeepsRepublik

October 16, 2012 10:57am

Only if you've lived in a cave for the last 4 years!

MBartelme1@gmail.com

October 16, 2012 10:07am

There is really only one good side that I can think of as far as the Kock brothers (pronounce it however you see correct but when I was in school I new a couple of brothers with the same last name and they didn't pronounce it like coke as they were proud of their heritage ) go and that is that they produce Charmin Toilet Paper (my preferred brand) and every time I use it I can't help think of them and picture them on each sheet I use! It just proves that everyone has some value even those two!

tampafree

October 16, 2012 10:01am

yes and the next thing that Koch brothers are going to demand is that we salute them with a Sieg Hiel!

jack olant

October 16, 2012 10:01am

Get a sharpie pen and get a crisp new dollar bill RIGHT NOW and write:

G.O.P.
RAPES
U.S.A.
Do this every day

Jeffrey Hill

October 16, 2012 9:57am

Political correctness is Koch Industries' main hiring criteria - the competent need not apply.

LarryECollins

October 16, 2012 9:48am

Actually EVERY business owner should be warning their employees of the dire consequences that will result from an Obama re-election and implementation of Obamacare. Remember this: EVERY BUSINESS OWNER WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO KEEP THEIR BUSINESS GOING AND PROFITABLE. If that means sending more money to Washington and paying fewer employees, THAT is what will happen. Those who live in either denial or the unemployment lines just don't get it. Employers will have no where to cut BUT employees. You can COUNT on a huge rise in unemployment next year if Obama is re-elected, Obamacare survives, and the current tax cuts expire. YOU'VE BEEN WARNED.

Richard Myron Lapham

October 16, 2012 2:16pm

larry E Collins, the world was going to end when women got the right to vote. The world was going to end when slavery was abolished. The world was going to end when minimum wage got enacted. Give it a rest. Stores used to not be air conditioned. Customers demanded it, now almost every place is air conditioned. That is a huge expense, isn't it? I didn't see anyone going out of business because they didn't want to air condition their store! All the indicators are that the rich are getting richer. Healthcare too will be a business expense like billboards and 50,000 a minute TV ads etc. Yes I realize everyone doesn't advertise on TV, but at least everyone will be on equal footing when it comes to health care.

PeepsRepublik

October 16, 2012 1:15pm

And another AMEN!

Curtis Smay

October 16, 2012 12:53pm

You got it bad . No truth in your statement . You surely have bad information, Obama care is a republican bill. Stupid , Obama care was everyone on SS.
Vote republican and become a refugee , Mexico will welcome you , bring your own tent because you are going to be there a long time.

murray_1337

October 16, 2012 11:55am

Please interpret the above correctly:

" I have been told by someone else that socialized healthcare is bad! Yikes! I'm scared! I'd better scare everyone else into voting my way! Even though I haven't a clue if its bad or not. I've just been told that. How could I know? I've never lived in a country with socialized healthcare!"

Sincerely,
Larryecollins

murray_1337

October 16, 2012 11:53am

Another thing. If a decapitated horse were running for the Republican Party Larryecollins would still vote republican.

Forget about what appears socialist! Ask yourself, "Does it work or not?" . If you're honest you will say, "I don't know. I've never tried socialized health care."

murray_1337

October 16, 2012 11:37am

Your beliefs do not justify fear mongering! Look what fiasco happened under Bush in 2008. That is way worse than what you're describing!

Never vote based in fear. Always on principle. Corporations have no where to cut??!! Hello... Try starting with the CEO's salary!

Ignore fear mongering by Larryecollins and his ilk!

PeepsRepublik

October 16, 2012 11:00am

Larryecollins! AMEN!

murray_1337

October 16, 2012 12:24pm

Ah PEEPSREPUBLIK. It's ok! PEEPSREPUBLIK is here. In his vast history of running countries he just knows that his devastatingly limited view of things is the right way. We'd better just shut up and implicitly believe him.

PeepsRepublik

October 16, 2012 1:19pm

If you had a jot's worth of historical knowledge of worldwide economics for the last 100 years or so, you'd take your own advise.